Especially in New South Wales – there’s Sydney and all that brings, Port Stephens, Springbrook National Park, Jenolan Caves and the Blue Mountains.
Fortunately for you, this lot come recommended by fellow backpackers.
Meet the finalists for ‘New South Wales: Best Tour/Activity’ at this year’s Golden Backpack Awards…
Australian Backpackers
Australian Backpackers offers loads of tour packages around Australia and New Zealand, and even sailing trips around Fiji. They are happy to go the extra mile too, even helping you to find affordable international flights. Flexi tours are one of its best sellers. You pick the dates and Australian Backpackers provides all the vouchers and secures you exclusive low prices. As Australian Backpackers puts it: “Everything is possible if you ask us.”
Autopia Tours
With more than 20 years’ experience in providing small group adventure, Autopia Tours prides itself on knowing what you want. With maximum group sizes of 24 passengers, it won’t squeeze you in among 50 other travellers. Autopia keeps group size small so you can relax, enjoy your tour and talk to your fellow passengers in comfort. The driver guides are the heart and soul of the company. All Aussies, they are knowledgeable and love showing off their beautiful country. The informative commentary will be a highlight of your tour. Like you they are world travellers, have a sense of adventure and don’t take life to seriously.
Bridge Climb Sydney
Sydney Bridge is one of Australia’s most famous icons, and you can often see a lemming-like chain of people dressed in blue climbing up to the top above the roar of traffic and water below. This is what Bridge Climb Sydney do; with them you can safely and surely hook yourself up to the climbing trail on the bridge and make your way to the top for some awesome views over the harbour and Sydney Opera House. On the way you will hear the fascinating story of how the bridge was built, information about the surrounding area, and you will get a photo to remind you of the day you were a part of Australia’s iconography.
Contiki
Travelling with Contiki isn’t about ticking the boxes, but those eye-opening moments in time that stay with you for life. Its tour managers are travellers; they live and breathe Australia, so they have tons of tips to share for amazing local experiences. They’re right there with you when you need them; and when you don’t, they’re taking care of all the gritty details – getting you checked-in to your hotels, arranging meals and sightseeing – giving you plenty of space to make it what you want. Contiki offers lots of exclusive experiences – look out for the ‘Only Contiki’ symbol on each itinerary.
G Adventures
G Adventures has grown from a one-man show nearly 25 years ago to a company of more than 1,350 staff worldwide, and from offering a handful of trips in Latin America to hundreds of adventures spanning the globe. What hasn’t changed is G-Adventures’ passion for making sure you get behind the scenes to experience the real world in an authentic and sustainable manner. Offering an inspiring selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions, the award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travellers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife.
Let’s Go Surfing
This place does what is says on the tin, offering everything from beginner’s lessons to holiday camps. Let’s go Surfing is the only officially licensed surf school on Bondi Beach, the most popular beach in Australia and famous around the world for its white sands, clean, clear water and great surf. Located just 7km from Sydney’s business district (an easy train/bus trip), it offers a wealth of activity: trendy, open-air restaurants, urban-style shops, hip Sunday markets, parks, beach-vibe bars and more.
Mojosurf
Three Aussie mates, Kim, Nat and Dan were born and bred on Australia’s East Coast. They met in the waves and all shared the same dream, to enjoy a life of surfing and travel. Through passion and enthusiasm they turned a dream into reality with the creation of Mojosurf. 2009 winners of the Golden Backpacks Best Tour/Activity in NSW, they now extend an invitation to you to experience the life of a travelling surfer. Join the fully guided mobile adventure and you will escape the crowds and explore remote beaches in search of good times and fun waves. Experience summer beach parties, make new friends, relax and enjoy the sun, sea and sand while learning how to surf on pristine Australian beaches. Tours and lessons operate from Sydney to Byron Bay via Crescent Head and Arrawarra(SpotX) everyday of the week.
OzIntro
If you’re going backpacking in Australia then OzIntro is the perfect way to start your adventure. It’ll sort out all the important stuff so you can relax and enjoy your experience. OzIntro sorts your visa, accommodation, will pick you up from the airport and will even help you find a job. You don’t need to worry about a thing. Plus, you can get involved with group tours such as jet boating on Sydney harbour, learning to surf, going bush-walking in the mountains and lots more. And by being part of a group, it’s a great way to meet people and make friends to share your Australia backpacking adventure.
Oz Snow Adventures
Oz Snow has been committed to offering quality snow trips at a reasonable price to skiers and boarders since 1999. It designs its tours to be fun filled, good value for money and will remove the stress from organising your snow holiday. Oz Snow is an all-in-one accredited tour operator, travel agent, hotel and lodge owner. This means it can keep its prices down and offer top facilities and services. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced skier or boarder, experience the snow scene on a fun-filled trip with Oz Snow Adventures.
Skydive Australia
The East Coast of Australia has always been a wonderful skydiving destination with beautiful beaches and subtropical countryside. The panoramic views are simply breathtaking. Skydive Australia’s operations have been fine tuned over the past 30 years. Its instructors are accredited by the Australian Parachute Federation – the governing body of skydiving within Australia – and each have thousands of skydives to their credit. Skydiving is an experience like no other, and these guys are the pros. The company has one of the best safety records in the world, which is good to know…
Skydive the Beach and Beyond
Founded in 1998 by a pair of degenerate young mates, Skydive the Beach and Beyond has grown from a small beachfront operation in Wollongong NSW using a single six-seater Cessna 206 to a company with 11 premium drop zones Australia wide – and more planned. Sharing skydiving awesomeness with people from all over the world has been its mission for more than 16 years. Staffed by an energetic young team, passionate about delivering the perfect skydiving adventure, the instructors are highly experienced in their field – many competing on a national and international level.
Surf Camp Australia
Surf Camp Australia has been introducing beginner surfers to the sport since 1999. Through this experience it has refined its learn-to-surf programme to offer one of the best beginner surf lessons. Only 130km, or two hours, from Sydney, Seven Mile Beach is one of Australia’s best “learn to surf” beaches. It consistently delivers ideal surf conditions for beginner surfers. This location combined with Surf Camp Australia’s expert instruction and high-quality surfing equipment provides the ultimate surf experience.
UltimateOz
UltimateOz Sydney is great value and the perfect way to start to your gap year trip Down Under. The company will arrange your airport transfer and first seven nights’ accommodation, plus you’ll spend a week with a group of others, exploring and making new mates. You’ll enjoy a welcome dinner, Sydney city walking tour, Sydney Harbour catamaran cruise, spend two nights at the UltimateOz Basecamp, go sandboarding, see wild bottlenose dolphins and koalas and meet UltimateOz’s resident kangaroo Josie.
